Millions spent on PR, despite cuts

THE Turnbull government ordered a $231,110 contract for a series of marketing "focus groups" as part of a $5 million advertising campaign for Tony Abbott's signature Green Army program just weeks before cutting $317 million from the program.

Documents tabled in the Senate have revealed the public relations contract was issued in November last year, just a month before Treasurer Scott Morrison's mid-year budget update revealed a $317 million cut to the program.

While Environment Minister Greg Hunt has not responded to questions about the matter, he was briefed on the contract, and his department has since approved a $5 million advertising campaign based on the research from the contract.